I knew when Iknewthat she wasn’t the one and it was easy to let her go at that point.
I guess I am the type of guy to fall in love hard and fast and knowwhen I know.I trust my gut on every matter in life, including relationships.
So why hadn’t it been that way with Anastasia? Why hadn’t I immediately wanted to marry her the moment that we met? Maybe because it had never been easy.
I’m not saying things with Rosie would be, but they already feel simpler, despite being fake, than things had ever felt with my ex.
I wonder if my family will react to this sudden marriage with shock and confusion or, like Rosie said, if they’ll meet her someday and say,this all makes perfect sense.Because, for reasons I can’t quite articulate, Rosie is my type. Strong yet timid. Beautiful but doesn’t realize the extent of her beauty. She just… feels like she’s made for me.
And that’s a hell of a weird thought to have right now for a woman I don't even know.
“Thank you,” Rosie says, flashing a polite smile at the server as they set down our plates. She stabs her salad with her fork and pops a bite into her mouth.
“So,” I say, leaning forward, “You’re not the type to fall in love at first sight?”
She chews thoughtfully before shaking her head. “No. I'm not. I dated a little during law school, but since graduating, I just haven’t had the time. Being a lawyer is demanding, and any man who’s shown interest… well, that interest usually only lasts for a night. If you catch my drift.”
Interesting.
“They sound like idiots.”
She smiles. “If you haven’t noticed, small talk isn’t my strength. Once they got what they wanted there was no real connection to fall back on.”
“Maybe you just haven’t found someone who can ask you good questions that keep you engaged in the conversation.”
She takes another bite of her salad. “Maybe.”
“Okay, here’s another one for you. When you’re not in courtrooms, working pro-bono cases, or fake marrying men, what do you do in your free time?”
Her eyes light up, a genuine smile spreading across her face as she forks another bite of salad. “A few months ago, I bought a lake house a couple of hours away by train. It’s in Connecticut.”
“What part?”
“It’s in a small town called Brookhaven. Think Hallmark movie vibes—you know, the girl moves to the big city but ends up returning home and falling in love with the town she left behind. Oh, and with the ruggedly handsome plumber who lives there.”
I smirk, raising a brow.Okay, so Rosie likes Hallmark movies but isn’t the type to fall in love at first sight. That’s a nugget of information I wasn’t expecting.
“I can picture it. Sounds like my hometown in Canada.”
Her face brightens as she nods excitedly. “It’s adorable. The whole town is built around this big lake in the center as the focal point and everyone fishes and boats on it during the summer. The house I bought has a deck that backs right up to the water, and my bedroom's balcony has a door that opens onto the lake. I can’t wait for warmer weather so that I can wake up to the sound of the water on the weekends.”
“That sounds nice. I take it that’s where you’ll be spending your weekends?”
She nods. “That’s the plan. It’s been tough finding the time to get out there with work, but I’ve made it happen as much as I can. My brother just had his first baby a few months ago, and he and his wife live on the opposite side of the lake. It’s nice to have family close by.”
“He commutes from the city every evening?”
She smiles and nods. “He does. It’s a hike, but it’s been great for him. It’s added some balance to his schedule. He leaves the office earlier most days to make it home for bedtime with his daughter. He’s also been working from home more often, building up a clientele among the wealthy who live on the outskirts of NYC and Hartford. That way, he’s closer to his family.”
“Interesting… wouldn’t have guessed that from my experience with him this week.”
She laughs softly. “You got the easy version of Cain. He used to be much more of a pain in the ass, but then he fell in love with my sister-in-law, Rhiannon, and honestly, they’re perfect for each other.” She sighs and smiles, her expression warm. “I’m happy for them.”
I clear my throat, thinking this is a good segway into a conversation that I know she's not going to like.
"So, about our living arrangements."
Her brows raise slightly. "I think my father was pretty clear that we would not be living together."
